Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc delivers a speech at the National Assembly session. 

In his speech on social issues, delivered during the NA session, PM Phuc said the Government continues paying attention to caring for the living conditions of revolutionary contributors, poor people and people with disabilities and providing fundamental social services for social welfare beneficiaries, creating opportunities for people in remote, mountainous and ethnic minority-inhabited areas to get better access to education and healthcare, particularly those in Northwestern, Central Highlands, Southwestern regions and coastal areas.

Regarding social issues raised by NA deputies such as the degradation of culture, and ethics, domestic violence, child abuse, hooliganism, traffic accidents, drowning and serious fires and explosions, PM Phuc said the development and advancement of a country are measured not only by economic achievements but also living environment, cultural values and civilization. The market-oriented economy brings better material conditions but also creates challenges such as making people indifferent, emotionless, irresponsible and easy to ignore or forget traditional cultural and ethical values. Therefore, it is necessary to have concrete strategies and measures to promote the positive side while limiting the negative side of the market-oriented economy and international integration to improve the living conditions and preserving traditional cultural and ethical values and social responsibility of each citizen.

The Government encourages healthy cultural activities, eliminating manifestations contrary to the fine traditions of the nation and the common interests of the community and society; requires all levels and sectors and, first of all, authorized forces to focus on drastically and comprehensively implementing measures to ensure the living environment, security and safety for the people.

It is necessary to speed up information dissemination, praise good people and good works; and criticize irresponsible and immoral behaviors. It is also needed to review social relations relating to traditional culture and ethics to protect the fundamental value in law. Special attention should be paid to the protection and care of children and adolescents. We cannot accept the fact that there are cases of child labor and child abuse as reported.

Concerning solutions to rapidly and sustainably develop the country with no one being left behind raised by NA deputy Bui Sy Loi (Thanh Hoa), the PM stresses that creating all favorable conditions and opportunities for everyone, particularly farmers in rural and mountainous areas is a basic and important solution. In Viet Nam, apart from creating conditions in terms of financial resources for individuals and businesses to develop, micro financial policies supporting poor women and prioritising disadvantaged areas are also implemented via the Vietnam Bank for Social Policy. Viet Nam has implemented policies, particularly those on poverty reduction, strengthened the modern social security network and reduced gender inequality. “Viet Nam is a developing country facing many difficulties, but the rate of health insurance coverage continued to be promoted, particularly for the poor,” the PM said./.